What are the signs of a failing transmission? (idle, fuel, valve)
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I have a 2002 Saab 9-5 (123,000 miles)that is stalling when it's cold (starts up ok, then shudders like if suffering power loss--RPMs surge up then down, then stalls). If I start it a couple more times it stays running. However when I drive it on the road it is sometimes hesitating to accelerate when I press the gas pedal and I also feel a hesitation when I take my foot off the gas. The mechanic is asking me whether the transmission is "slipping"? Is that what this is? I have no idea what the means and he can't explain it.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Slipping is when you step on the gas and the engine RPS increase as normal but the car either doesn't move at all or moves very slowly compared to normal. In some cases it will slip between gears, so you start off OK but then when it would normally shift up to 2nd or 3rd the engine races for a few seconds before the transmission catches. I have had to get 4 different transmissions rebuilt over the years. In one case it made a nasty smell while going down the road, and stopped moving while the engine kept going. That one needed a tow. Two of them slipped between 2nd and 3rd, the last slipped on starts, then was fine 2nd-4th.
Slipping is where you are accelerating, and the engine and trans seem to lose connection. The engine revs and the car isnt going anywhere. Just like you slipped it into neutral. Sometimes it smoothly "re-connects" and starts to accelerate again, or it could bang into gear.
The hesitation sounds more like a torque converter going out, but it sounds like you have several problems going on.
I have a 2002 Saab 9-5 (123,000 miles)that is stalling when it's cold (starts up ok, then shudders like if suffering power loss--RPMs surge up then down, then stalls). If I start it a couple more times it stays running. However when I drive it on the road it is sometimes hesitating to accelerate when I press the gas pedal and I also feel a hesitation when I take my foot off the gas. The mechanic is asking me whether the transmission is "slipping"? Is that what this is? I have no idea what the means and he can't explain it.
You have an engine problem, not a transmission problem. It could be anything from an IAC Valve to a weak fuel pump or plugged filter. Hard to tell from this distance, with no more information than you're able to provide.
A "slipping transmission" means that your engine is running faster but your car isn't.
I have a 2002 Saab 9-5 (123,000 miles)that is stalling when it's cold (starts up ok, then shudders like if suffering power loss--RPMs surge up then down, then stalls). If I start it a couple more times it stays running. However when I drive it on the road it is sometimes hesitating to accelerate when I press the gas pedal and I also feel a hesitation when I take my foot off the gas. The mechanic is asking me whether the transmission is "slipping"? Is that what this is? I have no idea what the means and he can't explain it.
Time to find a real mechanic.
The symptoms you've described are engine driveability issues, not a failing transmission.
At that, a mechanic who knows his stuff would be readily able to describe some basic guidelines for a transmission problem which you might be looking for to help with a proper diagnosis. He could ask you the appropriate questions to isolate the general problem area with your car.
That your "mechanic" is unable to "explain it" when asking about "slipping" isn't very encouraging.
I am interviewing a third and final mechanic ("Saab specialist") on the phone before renting another car and taking him the Saab. The previous 2 Saab mechanics were unable to fix the stalling or hesitation problem. The previous two mechanics also said the fuel pump had the "correct pressure," whatever that means. So they had ruled that out. They also ruled out a bad throttle body. I don't know but assume the previous 2 mechanics have checked the fuel filter, injectors, etc. I guess it could be a bad sensor or vacuum leak (like someone here said) but nobody can find it.
So this new mechanic thinks it may be the transmission.
Although I agree and suspect it is a fuel problem.
At this point the stress of not knowing when the car is not going to start PERIOD, taking the car in to the shop and renting a car for that period, and then waiting for days until a mechanic calls me and says, "I'm stumped" is leading me to consider breaking up with my Saab. Then again keeping this car (as long as it keeps running it runs OK) is cheaper than buying another car. Am I being intolerant? Should I just live with the stalling problem???
This can't be that complicated. Perhaps intermittent failure of the Crank Position Sensor? If the check valve in the fuel pump has some crud in it, the gas can drain back down into the tank & cause the engine to have to be turned over for a long time before the car starts. Again, this cannot be that complicated.
A quick Google comes up with a lot of CPS (Crankshaft Position Sensor), vacuum lines, and throttle body failures. These are common issues on the 9-5 causing hesitation and stalling. Gotta be one of those.
Go post on saabcentral.com and you'll get answers by people who have experienced this before on their 9-5's.
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